Ross Said:

is speech therapy and linguistics the same thing?

We Answered:

Look at asha.org
The university major for speech pathology/audiology is communicative disorders (CD) or speech and hearing science.
Linguistics's relation to speech pathology lies soley in the use and description of speech sounds (phonology and transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet) and grammar/syntax. On the other hand, speech pathology is the study and remediation of disorders of speech, language, voice, cognition, fluency, and swallowing.
If you major in a subject other than CD or speech/hearing science, you'll still have to take some undergraduate courses outside your major, which are required for consideration for a graduate program in speech pathology. That can take up to a year. You're better-off majoring in CD or speech/hearing science so your undergrad degree isn't delayed.

Claude Said:

Does anyone know of any controversial issues related to Speech Pathology?

We Answered:

There are several ethical and moral issues that are related to being a speech pathologist. They are related to recommending certain drugs and surgery for revolving specific speech defects.

There are ethics involved in decision making in temorary care challenges the speech pathologist to make the most appropriate recommendations, in terms of benefit to the client (Kinlaw, 2005). In addition, the clinician must be able to validate their recommendations as being the "right" choice (Kinlaw, 2005).

Examples of ethical dilemmas that may face a speech pathologist working in the field of palliative care include:

Deciding whether or not oral intake should be replaced with enteral feeding (Kinlaw, 2005; Eckman & Roe, 2005; Lang & Quill, 2004; Hemsley & Balandin, 2003)

Deciding upon a speech pathology intervention plan when the person with palliative needs and their family and friends have contrasting wishes regarding treatment (Kinlaw, 2005; Tulsky, 2005; Bowman, 2000)

Deciding if speech pathology intervention is appropriate (Kinlaw, 2005)

Deciding if clients administered with temparary care be invited to participate in research (Riley & Ross, 2005; Jubb, 2002)

Shawn Said:

If I major in Kinesiology, can I become a speech therapist?

We Answered:

Kines and speech path are totally different, although kines you can become a physical therapist, and both PT and SLP are allied healthcare fields. Anyways, in order to be accepted in grad school for SLP (which is required), you need to have basic classes under your belt such as phonetics, head and neck anatomy, speech development, etc. I would take a few classes in speech path to see if you like it. Don't waste time with kines if you want speech path. If you major in kines then decide to go to school for speech path, you will have to spend at least one year taking the required classes to even apply. So if speech path is something you are really interested in and want to pursue, if your current school doesn't offer an undergraduate degree in it, I would transfer schools.

Very simple answer to your q...yes. Regardless of your major, you can become an SLP, but you will need to make up the required coursework before you apply.